diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index 7fb232ad2..957ca9439 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -263,14 +263,14 @@ namespace cryptonote
     m_blockchain_storage.set_enforce_dns_checkpoints(enforce_dns);
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  bool core::update_checkpoints()
+  bool core::update_checkpoints(const bool skip_dns /* = false */)
   {
     if (m_nettype != MAINNET || m_disable_dns_checkpoints) return true;
 
     if (m_checkpoints_updating.test_and_set()) return true;
 
     bool res = true;
-    if (time(NULL) - m_last_dns_checkpoints_update >= 3600)
+    if (!skip_dns && time(NULL) - m_last_dns_checkpoints_update >= 3600)
     {
       res = m_blockchain_storage.update_checkpoints(m_checkpoints_path, true);
       m_last_dns_checkpoints_update = time(NULL);
@@ -669,7 +669,8 @@ namespace cryptonote
 
     // load json & DNS checkpoints, and verify them
     // with respect to what blocks we already have
-    CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(update_checkpoints(), false, "One or more checkpoints loaded from json or dns conflicted with existing checkpoints.");
+    const bool skip_dns_checkpoints = !command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_dns_checkpoints);
+    CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(update_checkpoints(skip_dns_checkpoints), false, "One or more checkpoints loaded from json or dns conflicted with existing checkpoints.");
 
    // DNS versions checking
     if (check_updates_string == "disabled")
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
index 79a846de1..3b7e3720f 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
       *
       * @note see Blockchain::update_checkpoints()
       */
-     bool update_checkpoints();
+     bool update_checkpoints(const bool skip_dns = false);
 
      /**
       * @brief tells the daemon to wind down operations and stop running